Monday, January 26, 2009

TEMPLES

IN OLD AND (NEW) DELHI - FEBRUARY 2008

Delhi is the second largest city in India with more than eleven million inhabitants; just one million more than the whole Portugal... With so many people around, it has lots of temples. The most impressive Hindu temple is the Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham complex. Since you are not allowed to take pictures in there (even my cell phone had to be returned to the car before entering), you'll have to refer to Wikipedia to have some views of the magnificent building. And even so, mostly from outside only! Or you buy the souvenir book... From some other worship places, we managed to get a few pictures...

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OLD DELHI

"JAAMA MASJID - The Masjid-i Jahan-Namaa, built from 1650 through 1656 by five thousand workers for Emperor Shah Jahan, is the most important mosque of Old Delhi and allegedly the largest mosque in Asia. The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers"

"SRI DIGAMBAR JAIN LA - Just in front of the Red Fort"

"GURDWARA SIS GANJ - Built on the site where the Mughals beheaded Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675, it commemorates his martyrdom. According to the legend, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded by Mughal emperor, Auranzeb, as he refused to convert to Islam. On his death, no one dared to pick up his body. Suddenly, sky became clouded, followed by a heavy downpour. Then, two of his disciples fled with his head and body. One can still see the trunk of the tree under which the Guru was martyred"

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"GANESH is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon, widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles or as Lord of Beginnings"

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DELHI

"ISKCON - Also known as the «Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple», is dedicated to Lord Krishna and was built by the Hare-Rama Hare-Krishna cult followers in 1998"

"LOTUS TEMPLE - Built between 1980 and 1986, it's the last of seven major Bahai temples build all over the world and the only Bahai Temple of Worship in Asia. The Temple has a Prayers Hall for Meditation for Faiths of all Religions"

"BIRLA MANDIR - Also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, it was built in 1938 by B.D.Birla and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes in particular untouchables would be allowed in. The temple enshrines almost all the deities of the Hindu Pantheon, headed by Narayan (Vishnu, the preserver in Hindu trinity) and his consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and good fortune"

59 comments:

Trotter
said...

Hi everybody! OK. Just left the Tombs to turn to the Temples! A bit more joyful, I believe, but still great architectural achievements... ;) Hope you enjoy these, which make the transition from old monuments in Delhi to the monuments of New Delhi we’ll see in the next post!And, as today is Chinese New Year: Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財

These are some awesome picture's bcos its much familiar, even my parents had been there when they had gone for Delhi tour which i missed it.Lotus temple wow its so superb, that temple in front of Red fort its almost same picture which my dad clicked only difference is my mom was standing in that picture.Nice picture of Lord Ganesh, yup u said it rite Lord of Beginning.

Thank you for your wishes, Trotter. Gong Xi Fa Cai. May the year of the Ox bring good health, good luck and good fortune to all. Very interesting to see the photos of India. My husband went to India several times but never take a single photo, it was work, work and more work that he did not have time to tour around. What a waste! Your photos really show the amazing culture and buildings in India.

It's still January so I am not too late to wish you a Happy New Year filled with many new trips for the famous globe trotter you are!!

Like you ,It took me a while to put India on my travel list but I really think I am ready... and looking at all your posts,Comments and Photographs, on Old Delhi is convincing me even more!!!It must have been a beautiful trip!! I took the name of the French book you gave to buy it next time I am in France.Enjoy the rest of the week.

Another excellent post, Gil.The temples are really magnificent, I'm particularly attracted by the timeless image of the Iskon Temple.I'm glad you have appreciated Michelangeli's videos: I'm always been a great fan of Benedetti Michelangeli and I had the luck to go to some of his great concerts (it was difficult to get the tickets!) in Turin and in Bregenz.

nice post..u have covered almost all the popular temples in delhi....except i think the hanuman mandir and the bangla sahib gurdwara in C.P..the reason the security is so tight in akshardham coz the swaminarayan temple in Gujarat was attacked by terrorists in 2005 and lot of people got injured...after that all the swaminarayan temples have beefed up their security....

Kven,Some of these buildings are tourist must see; no wonder you have already had some images of them… ;) I also have some pictures with people standing, but try to post only the ones with the best view of the monuments… ;))

Angela,According to Wikipedia, «Three core principles establish a basis for Bahá'í teachings and doctrine: the unity of God, the unity of religion, and the unity of humankind. » The temple is beautiful!

Peter,I agree with you; the Lotus temple will be a standing sign of our times…

Norman,Thanks. It’s reciprocal: I also learn a lot about the Philippines with your blog!!

Alice Sg,Work, work, work… OK, but at least a short time to make some pictures to show at home. What a waste, I agree… ;))Thanks for your wishes for the Year of the OX!

Jen,They’re pretty eclectic over there… ;)) and what I showed is only a little bit…

Rune,The Lotus temple is a landmark!!

Paul,More than a mix: a true blend! Actually, it seems there is some unity on all that diversity…

Bindu,Great to bring back your twenty year-old memories; amazing that things look alike; maybe be they have had good maintenance!!

Maria,Thanks. It’s always a great pleasure to read you here!!

Tootie,Thanks! Glad you liked it…

Lynn,You’re not the alone… ;))

Azer,Birla is also an amazing building; I’m sorry I couldn’t take picture of the awesome Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham complex. Incredble!!

Joyce,Even at the courtyard is incredible… ;))

Rakesh,Unfortunately, this wasn’t yet the time to make an incursion in southern India; one day maybe…

Tinsie,You’re a girl of good taste!!

Neva,I’m not surprised at all to learn that your daughter is preparing a return; I wish I had the time to make it also… ;))

Marie-Noyale,Welcome back! Great to read you here again! India is definitely an amazing destination… Complex, however!The book is an interesting one; however, sometimes is too technical, as the Author was a psychiatrist at the French Consulate in Mumbai and had to deal with the actual cases of French people and other Westerners who somehow got «lost» in India… ;)

Lori,Yes, massive; and I couldn’t show the most impressive of them all… ;)

Kuanyin,Ganesh collectors? I also brought a silver one home… ;)

Ron,It’s always better to confirm «in loco»… on the spot, I mean… ;))

Sue,So great to see that you had time and connection to get here! Love to read your comments!Wish you a great trip around USA!! Florida wouldn’t be bad for a break, should I have some time left… ;)

Pietro,Lucky guy to have heard Michelangeli life; I heard only records… ;))

Shionge,My pleasure! You’re not that far from Delhi… ;))

Shooting Star,I’m sure I missed many other magnificent temples, but time wasn’t that large… Anyhow, thanks for the hint; next time… ;)Of course, I understand the security, but it’s always hard to let the cameras outside… ;)

i can't believe they won't allow you to take your camera inside! ohmygosh. it's not like it's the BEST temple in the world :p seriously though... there are many other impressive structures in the world that have no qualms about letting people and tourists take photographs of them. it's weird how the keeper of this temple in delhi is like that. but i love that shot of that lotus temple. beautifully designed.

Please let me correct you that "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" ISKCON is not a "Cult" but a part of age old(around 5000 yrs) tradition of Vaishnavas. They are the followers of Krishna and follow the rules & regulations mentioned in the Vedic Scriptures.

Thanks for the nice photos. It seems you didnot bother to visit ISKCON temple and take a few snaps inside the temple. This one posted here is taken from the Lotus temple.

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This blog started with the pictures taken in the digital era, which means from November 2000 onwards. For the pre-digital period - photos scanned either from paper or from negatives - I created the Revivals:BLOGTROTTER 70s & 80sandBLOGTROTTER 90s.